NMU sports: Coach Buck Nystrom Football Scholarship gifts announced

December 20, 2013

MARQUETTE - Commemorative gifts have been announced for various levels of giving for the new Coach Buck Nystrom Football Scholarship established at Northern Michigan University.

The university's athletic department announced the establishment of the scholarship earlier this fall by former players, coaching colleagues and friends as a way to honor the legendary coach at NMU and other prominent schools.

Former players said in its establishment that "Coach Buck" was the epitome of perseverance and "a man with the heart of a true Wildcat."

Gifts available start at the $250 level, a choice of a tribute video shown at the "Hands on the Line for Coach Nystrom" tribute in September, a video of the program itself or a CD of photos taken at the event. At $500, donors receive two of these listed items and at $1,000 all three.

Nystrom has been lauded for his nearly 58-year college and high school coaching career and the positive effect he's had on the lives of hundreds of players and coaches in addition to Wildcat fans and area residents.

The scholarship will be awarded annually to an upperclassman on the NMU football team who has demonstrated, practiced and executed to the highest degree the five qualities of the "fourth-quarter" program - discipline, commitment, effort, enthusiasm and pride.

Nystrom, a Marquette native, was a part of five teams to win national championships in NCAA Division I or II as a player or coach, including NMU's 1975 title team. As a player, he earned All-Big Ten, All-America and Academic All-America honors, in addition to being a team captain, MVP and a two-time Rose Bowl player, including once as that game's MVP. He was drafted in 1956 by the NFL's Washington Redskins.